Electrical apparatus.



S. B. HESS.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26, 1914- l ,1 88,654. Patented June 27, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. C.

SIMON B. HESS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed December 26, 1914. Serial No. 879,049.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON B. Hess, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Apparatus, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention aims to provide not only an improved electrical signaling system, but also one preferably to be operated with battery current to satisfy actual, practical and prescribed conditions, as well as to provide a method and means of thus employing, with great convenience, efficiency and ec0nomy of installation and maintenance, said battery current and said system in connection therewith.

The system disclosed by this invention is particularly adapted for utilization as an alarm system for protecting, say, from fire, localized territory, factory buildings and the like. 7

Systems of the class last mentioned are de signed primarily to provide means for sounding an alarm or a plurality of alarms upon the occurrence of a predetermined circumstance; for example, an alarm or a plurality of alarms, of fire, sent from anyone of a plurality of stations and giving warning signals at one desired point or at a plurality of desired points in a building or the like, so as to warn the occupants of the existence of a fire to the end that they may make escape, or for the purpose of training the occupants of the building as to the most expeditious means of making their exit in case of fire or other catastrophe, or'for the purpose of calling a fire brigade to quarters, 82c. lieretofore known systems of this class have been operable, as would also be operable the system disclosed herein as a feature of this invention (1) by means of energy furnished from a central station, (2) by means of energy furnished from a purveying companys light and power mains, and (3) by means of battery current.

The first source of current referred to, as will readily be understood, is not always available. As to the second source of current, and in particular where the purveying companys mains are not underground, the current supplied from said source is not at the present time considered sufiiciently reliable to have connected therewith signaling or protective systems, because of likelihood of interruptions in the service due to general conditions outside of the protected zone. Indeed, in some localities, the purvcying companys mains may only provide alternating current, which for obvious reasons may not be suitable for meeting the requirements of the equipment to be installed on the risk; and in such localities, and in other localities where there is no form of generated service mains, or generated current, at the present time the only form of service available is battery current. Systems to be operated by this battery current may consist of suitable signaling stations and signal receiving devices, the latter comprising electro-mechanical gongs, electric single-stroke gongs, or vibrating gongs as well as other standard signal receiving equipment.

As is well known in the art, the magnets associated with the electro -mechanical gongs heretofore have normally held their armatures attracted, that is, have held the gong-hammers retracted from the gongs themselves, so that upon each opening of the protective circuit a hammer would be released to strike an audible blow; the lire alarm stations usually employed in connection therewith being of the type carrying a .code-message-means on the periphery of the break-wheel, to the end that the starting of any of these stations, either manually or automatically, causes the break-Wheel-to rotate, thereby opening and closing the protective circuit a predetermined number of times and with each such opening causing the electro-mechanical gongs to release their gong hammers for a separate signal-factor in a predetermined signal. In order to maintain the armature and gong-hammers of these electromechanical gongs in their normally attracted positions, since failure .or diminution below normal of the current flow in the protective circuit has been heretofore designed to bring about a signaling function, a certain relatively high value of ,current flow has been continuously re quired. And up to the present time, al though attempts have been made to use dry batteries, the most etficient battery system available for furnishing current to signaling systems of the class described has necessarily consisted, and required by the inspection authorities to consist, of primary cells of large ampere-hour capacity.

It is an object of this invention to'provide .a system which may be maintained con stantly under test with a minimum an'iount of energy.

It is a further object of this invention to provide novel means of intermittently increasing the current flow in the si 'nal reing devices during the transn'nssion of I a signal.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less broad than those stated above, together with the advantages inherent, will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts, and applications of principles constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will appear from the claims.

The accompanying drawing which is to be taken as a part of said specification and wherein I have shown an embodiment of the invention as at present preferred, is a generally diagrammatic view disclosing said embodiment.

Referring now particularl to the parts and combination of parts shown by this drawing the reference numerals 1 and 2 represent respectively a feeding bus-bar and a return bus-bar. The protective circuit above referred to is, relatively of the showing of the drawing, located above these busbars, the parallel feed wires 3 and 4 having each respectively interposed therein a plurality of signal receiving devices 5 and 6. Each of the devices 5 is preferably similar in type, as specifically illustrated in connection with the lowermost one; and the same remarks maybe made in connection with the devices 6. As aforesaid, these devices 5 and 6 may be electromechanical gongs, or electric single stroke gongs, vibrating gongs, or other suitable signal receiving equipment. Each of these signal receiving devices here preferably consists of an electromechanical gong, and, as aforesaid, a gong of the heretofore accepted type. In these. well-known electro-mechanical gongs, the gong hammer normally lies in coincidence with the radius of a predetermined circle and the gong hammer is pivoted at the center of said circle, the circle representing the line described by the tip of the hammer during one complete revolution thereof, a portion of the rim of the gong itself overlapping the confines of said circle, and. be-

fore and at the end of each revolution of the gong hammer (such revolution being spring-driven and occurring when the non mal high current flowing through the protective circuit is momentarily, as in a signal transmission, diminished sufliciently to cause the magnet to allow to become retracted its normally attracted armature) the tip of said hammer being removed from contact with the gong proper.

Before reaching its lowermost device 5 or (3, each of the wires 3 and 1 is suitably wound about a preferably magnetic core to establish the differential or balanced relay 8. This relay has associated therewith a movable armature 9 so adjusted and positioned that with the protective circuit not yet completely described closed and func tionable, that is, with the relay 8 balanced, a local alarm circuit having interposed therein a vibrating bell 11 and a source of current 12 will be open. Before the wire reaches the differential relay, it preferably passes through milli-ammeter 13 and before the wire 3 reaches said relay. it preferably msses through a milli-ammeter 1 1. After leaving their signal receiving devices 5 and 6, wires 3 and it join as a single wire 16 at the point 15; and after passing through a plurality of signaling stations 16, said wire 16 traverses the upper relay set 17 and reaches a point 18.

Each of the stations 16 is preferably similar in type, as specifically illustrated in connection with the lowermost one, there being any number of said stations, no matter how many there are of devices 5 and (3. Each station 16 here includes, then, a breakwherl 16, each of the ln'eak-wheels of the devices present being provided with an in dividually dissimilar number that its signal-series will be distinguished and hence have a peculiar nrelocation significance), and also includes a plurality of brushes 16 so arranged that the lower brush will by gravity or inherent resiliency drop away from the upper brush momentarily to open the protective circuit at each passage in a counter clockwise direction of a wheel-tooth beyond said lower brush. Beyond the point 18 wire 16 divides into a wire 19 and a wire 20, the latter of which, having interposed therein preferably a plurality of adjustable rheostats 21 and 22, leads back to return bus-bar 2. Wire 19 connects with a movable armature 28, biased by gravity to drop against two contacts located therebelow, thereby to close a nor mally open local alarm circuit 25; but said armature being adapted normally, is, with the protective circuit not cooperating in an alarm function, to be maintained away from said contacts by the energization of the upper relay set 17. Local circuit 25 has interposed therein a vibrating bell 26 and a source of current 27. relay set 23 interposed in a wire 23 that is predeterminately adapted to cut out the adjustable rheostat 21, is provided to settle armatl'n'e 2S squarely into cooperation with the contacts in local circuit 25 after gravity initially attracts said armature against said contacts upon each breaking of the protective circuit.

As to the operation of the protective circuit and particularly in connection with of teeth (so A lower that ' preferably takes and 23 and with the adjustable rheostats 21 and 22, the operation is this: When the protective circuit breaks, as it will break once or several successive times during each operation of a signaling station 16, no current flows through any of the signaling devices 5 and 6; when the circuit is closed again, which occurs each time when atooth carried by break-wheel 16' makes passage in a counter clockwise direction beyond lower brush 16, there is an abnormal surge of current through the protective circuit, because rheostat 21 is cut out due to a predetermined magnetic lag contemplated to be provided for in connection with relay 23 to affect armature 28 to delay its response to the attraction of upper relay-set 17 and therefore wire 23 is permitted momentarily to become a part of the protective circuit. The lag just referred 'to may be imparted or provided for in any of those manners which are too well known to need description or illustration here. Of course, as soon as this lag is overcome,- which place practically instantaneously, the connection of wire 23' with the protective circuit is made incomplete and consequently rheostat 21 again becomes a part of the protective circuit to cut down the amperage in the latter to normal. At this point it may again be reiterated that the present exceedingly simple system may be used, and an important advantage thereof is that it is designed primarily to be used, with standard equipment, both with reference to the signaling stations 16 and the signal receiving devices 5 and 6, purchasable on the open market; that this great economical and practical advantage is really present will be apparent. For it is clear that while normally a current of low amperage is flowing through the protective circuit, the magnets within each of the devices 5 and 6 permit their armature to be and remain retracted; that when, during a counter clockwise rotation of a break-wheel 16, he brushes 16 have in any instance been first permitted to separate and subsequently been brought into mutual contact, the magnets within each of the devices 5 and 6, due to the existence of the lag above mentioned and consequently due to a delay in the functioning of upper relay set 17 to remove armature 28 from the two contacts included within the local alarm circuit 25 and as a final result due to the cutting out of adjustable rheostat 21, attract their armatures (thereby as is well known in the art setting the gong-hammer spring-drive of an electro mechanical gong or in the case of an electric single stroke gong, actuating the hammer thereof) and that when, after said brushes 16 have been again brought into mutual contact as just stated, upper relay set 17 h as attracted to it armature 28 and consethese relay-sets 17 quently, due to the lowering of the current in the protective circuit to normal, the magnets within each of the devices 5 and (i will permit their armatures to become retracted and therefore permit the spring drive of each device to actuate once its gong hammer.

In connection with the conception of the feature of the inrention first referred to, the provision of the wire 36 and of the contact 36 was thought of. But it should be understooc that it is entirely unnecessary to have wire 36 and its said contact 36 present; indeed the presence of this wire and its contact may be said to be highly undesirable as the value of the invention is at present appraised, for if such wire and contact were present a standard signaling station 16 could not bemployed without to a certain extent rebuilding the same for the accommodation and mounting therein of contact. 36' and for the exit therefrom of wire 36. lVith he wire 36 and the contact 86' present, upper brush 16 would be preferably loosely mounted upon a pivot located at 16 The operation of the system, then,

would be as follows (still remembering that this system is contemplated preferably to be operated normally under a current of comparatively low amperage) When a breakwheel 16 rotating in a counter clockwise direction permits its lower brush 16" to drop away from its upper brush 16", said upperbrusl'l is predeterminately halted by contact 36 so that lower brush 16 drops below the tip of the halted upper brush. Immediately thereupon wire 36 is placed in series with the protective circuit so as to cut out upper relay set 17. The result is that until brushes 16" are again brought intomutual contact,-the armature 28, which, upon the separation aforesaid of brushes 16', was permitted to touch the two contacts included in local alarm circuit 25, remains in touch with said two contacts, and thereby, by cutting out resistance 21, causes the abnormal surge of current hereinabeve mentioned as causing a functioning of devices 5 and (5. i

It will be seen in the drawings that I have indicated, by the presence of the broken-line conductors 36 and contacts 36 that any or all of said signaling stations 16 may be, if desired, so constituted. But let us leave consideration of the unnecessary parts just discussed, and resume examination of the system as minus these p: rts.

With reference to the upper and lower favor the force of gravity acting upon 1' & 1,188,654

armature 28. The adjustable rheostats 21 and 22 are provided to establish a proper, that is, a predetermined, amperage in both of the following cases, to wit (1) when the protective circuit is normally receiving low current and not participating in a signaling function, due to the energization of relay set- 1'? and consequently clue to the fact that both rheostats are in series with the proactive circuit; and (2) when the protective circuit is abnormally receiving an abnormal surge of high current as aforesaid to par ticipate in a signaling function, due to the preliminary recnergization of said relay-set and the lag aforesaid of armature 2S and consequently due to the fact that adjustable rheostat is in series with the protective circuit. Thus, the above mentioned two rheostats are preferably so arranged and designed that having set rheostat 21 so that whenever rheostat 21 is in series with the protective circuit, the selected voltage fed to the system will give a low predetermined amperage, that is, an amperage so low that the devices 5 and 6 will not operate as aforesaid, rheostat 22 may be set so that when ever the wire 23 is in series with the protective circuit to the practical exclusion of rheostat 21, the selected voltage fed to the system will give a relatively high predetermin d amperage, that is, an amperage high enough to causesaid devices to operate or prepare for operation as aforesaid. Probably practice will show that the above mentioned adjustment of adjustable rheostat 21 should be for say twenty milliamperes, and that the above mentioned ajustment of adjustable rheostat 22 should be for say eighty milliamperes. Remember again that, contrary to the usual practice, more or all current is flowing through the protective circuit at the giving of each alarm signal and less or no current is flowing through said circuit when each of the devices 5 and 6 is ineffective.

It should be noted that in rising the features of this embodiment of this invention which are located on the drawing above bus- 7 bars 1 and 2, the same may receive current from an ordinary three-wire system, as in the case of employing the mains of a purvcying company; in which event the wires 3 and t would represent one ofthe two outer wires, and, with the wire 20 leading to bus-bar 2 as disclosed, the wire 35, leading to ground, may represent the middle or neutral wire. With this ground wire as shown, and if a dry battery source were used, an inadvertent grounding of the protective circuit would give a trouble-signal by deiincrgizing relay set 17 and closing lo cal circuit 25.

The operation of all features of the present embodiment have thus been described, except perhaps the functions of differential relay 8, of the milliammeters 13 and 141- and of the vibrating bell 26. As to the differential relay 8 it may be stated that said relay is incapable of attracting toward itself armature 9, under normal conditions, that is, while the conducting integrity of each of the wires 3 and a is existent, inasmuch as the magnetic lines of force set up by the relays coil which is a part of wire 3 is normally neutralized by the relays coil which is a part of wire at, and vice versa; but it will be obvious that upon any of the wires in which a receiving device 5 or (S is interposed becoming grounded or broken, or a change of resistance occurring, and this is important in protective systems, as they sometimes cover great territories and are quite complicated, the differential relay will become unbalanced, attract armature 9 and close the local alarm circuit 10, thereby causing the giving of an alarm at 11.

Now upon the giving of the alarm last mentioned it is important that it be immediately learned in which one of the wires 3 and lthe break has occurred or a grounded device is interposed, and this explains the presence of the milliammeters 13 and 14'; for an examination thereof will in an obvious manner localize the trouble which caused the functioning of bell 11. These milliammeters also serve a valuable func tion in that by aid of scrutinizing them while the rheostats 21 and 22 are being adjusted, such adjustments will be rendered simple and convenient no matter what be the preliminary adjustments of switches 29, 30 and 31. As to the function of the vibrating bell 26 it will be noted that this bell will only be actuated when the local alarm circuit 25 is closed and consequently when battery 27 may furnish current to said local circuit. This local circuit is not closed, however, except immediately after the passage in a counter clockwise direction beyond brushes .16 of one of the teeth carried by break-wheel 16, due to the resultant momentary inability as aforesaid of upper relay set 17 longer to maintain at tracted armature 28,

In accordance with rule 43 of the rules governing practice before the Patent Oilice, I desire it to be understood that the features of the inventions described in the three paraginphs preceding have been described, and in certain respects claimed, in a certain copending application of mine filed heretofore. But as to the parts mentioned in the last preceding paragraph, an important thing herein to note in connection with this embodiment is that there is provided an absolute supervision, by means of the presence of the local alarm circuit 25, over the contacts within signal sending stations 16, for it is plain that upon a dropping of armature 2S vibrating bell 26 will give a continuous alarm; and immediately upon this continuous alarm occurring, as contradistinguished from the usual short or intermittent ringing of bell 26, due to the operation of a station 16, warning will be given of a defect in any of said devices or in the irotective circuit in which they are interposed. I

In the claims, where a signaling station is referred to, illustration thereof will be found at 16 on the drawing, and where such a signaling station is mentioned as inactive, an illustration thereof will be found on the drawing in the contacting of the brushes 1G irrespective whether break-wheel 1G is rotating or is immovable.

It will be seen that I have also provided a system for any form of current, to operate more economically than at present and par: pesely designed so that slight additions to present installations will readily effect great economy in battery maintenance.

While the drawing describes gongs in par llel circuits, a substantially similar diagram may be used for connecting gongs and stations in one series circuit, in which event at least one of the milliampere meters, the neutral relay and its associated signal, circuit and battery may be dispensed with, without departing from the spirit of the invention: or, again, a single set of primary or storage batteries may be substituted for the battery system here shown, and operated with great advantage in respect to the life of said battery, and in this event a fixed resistance may be substituted for the adjustable rheostat 22.

Inasmuch as many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention could be made without departing from the scope 17 and 28 is not herein claimed, as same is claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 8%),703, filed July 8, 1914.

The relative arrangement of the different battery banks and associated switches is not herein claimed as same is claimed in my copending divisional application, Serial No. 95,367, filed May 4, 1916.

Having described said invention, claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above dewhat I 1. in a system of the class described, in combination, a protective circuit; a source ofsupply adapted to feed current thereto; a resistance interposed in said circuit adapted to cut down the current normally flowing through said circuit to a predetermined low an'iperage; a circuit-breaker, as a code-message signaling station, interposed in said circuit, and adapted when inactive to maintain said circuit closed but adapted when operated to open and close alternately said circuit; a signal receiving device, as an electromechanical gong, interposed in said circuit and adapted to render perceptible a signal as a result ofthe creation within said circuit of a momentary surge of current of an amperage higher than the amperage first mentioned provided said surge is followed by a return of said current to said first mentioned amperage; said protective circuit having associated therewith a normally open by-path conductor adapted when closed to cut out said resistance to permit said surge; and electro-magnetic means, including an electromagnetic instrumentality responsive to signaling impulses and a normally ineffective circuit closer for said by-path adapted to be controlled to close said by-path when said circuit breaker is operated to open said circuit as aforesaid, said electromagnetic instrumentality being interposed in said circuit and being normally energized; said electro-magnetic means being so designed that when said circuitbreaker is operated to close said circuit as aforesaid the return by said electro-magnetic means of said circuit closer to the normal ineffectiveness aforesaid is predeterminately delayed; all to the end that for the efiicient operation of the system said protective circuit at the point whereat said circuit breaker is interposed therein may normally consist merely of a single conductor.

2. In a system of the class described, in combination, a protective circuit, a source of supply adapted to feed current thereto; a resistance interposed in said circuit adapted to out down the current normally flowing through said circuit to a predetermined low amperage; a circuit-breaker, as a code-message signaling station, interposed in said circuit, and adapted when inactive to maintain said circuit closed but adapted when operated to open and close alternately said circuit; a signal receiving device, as an elec tro-mechanical gong, interposed in said circuit and adapted to render perceptible a signal as a result of the creation within said circuit of a momentary surge of current of an amperage higher than the amperage first mentioned provided said surge is followed by a return of said current to said first mentioned amperage; said protective circuit having associated therewith a normally open bypath conductor adapted when closed to cut out said resistance to permit said surge; and electro-magnetic means, including an electromagnetic instrumentality responsive to signaling impulses and a normally ineffective circuitcloser for said by-path adapted to be controlled to close said by-path when said circuit-breaker is operated to open said circuit as aforesaid, said electromagnetic instrumentality being interposed in said circuit and being normally energized; said electro-magnetic means being so designed that when said circuit-breaker is operated to close said circuit as aforesaid the return by said electro-magnetic means of said circuit closer to the normal ineffectiveness aforesaid is pre determinately delayed; all to the end that for the efiicient operation of the system said protective circuit at the point whereat said circuit-breaker is interposed therein may normally consist merely of a single conductor; said protective circuit also having interposed therein a resistance adapted to cooperate with the resistance first mentioned, when said by-path is normally opened as aforesaid, to cut down the current flow through said circuit to said amperage first mentioned.

3. In a system of the class described, in combination, a protective circuit, a source of supply adapted to feed current thereto; a resistance interposed in said circuit adapted to cut down the current normally flowing through said circuit to a predetermined low amperage; a circuit-breaker, as a code-message signaling station, interposed in said circuit, and adapted when inactive to maintain said circuit closed but adapted when operated to open and close alternately said circuit; a signal receiving device, as an electro mechanical gong, interposed in said circuit and adapted to render perceptible a signal as a result of the creation within said circuit of a momentary surge of current of an amperage higher than the amperage first mentioned provided said surge is followedby a return of said current to said first mentioned amperage; said protective circuit having associated therewith a normally open bypath conductor adapted when closed to cut out said resistance to permit said surge; and electro-magnetic means, including an elec tro-magnetic instrumentality and a normally ineffective circuit closer for said by-path adapted to be controlled to close said bypath when said circuit-breaker is operated to open said circuit as aforesaid, said electromagnetic instrumentality being interposed in said circuit and being normally energized; said system also including a second normally open by-path conductor adapted when closed to cut out said instrumentality, and said circuit-breaker having means asso ciated therewith adapted to close said second by-path when said circuit is opened as aforesaid.

4L. In a .ystem of the class described, in

combination, a protective circuit, a source of supply adapted to feed current thereto; a resistance interposed in said circuit adapted to cut down the current normally flowing through said circuit to a predetermined low amperage; a circuit-breaker, as a code-message signaling station, interposed in said circuit, and adapted when inactive to maintain said circuit closed but adapted when operated to open and close alternately said circuit; a signal receiving device, as an electro-mechanical gong interposed in said circuit, and adapted to render perceptible a signal as the result of the creation within said circuit of a momentary surge of current of an amperage higher than the amperage first mentioned provided said surge is followed by a return of said current to said first mentioned amperage; said protective circuit having associated therewith a normally open by-path conductor adapted when closed to cut out said resistance to permit said surge; and electro-magnetic means, in cluding an electromagnetic instrumentality and a normally inelfective circuit closer for said by-path adapted to be controlled to close said by-path when said circuit-breaker is operated to open said circuit as aforesaid, said electro-magnetic instrumentality being interposed in said circuit and being nor mally energized; said circuit-breaker having a conductor leading thereto from said source and two conductors leading therefrom and back to said source, one of said two conductors having interposed therein said instrumentality and the other of said two conductors beingshunted around said instrumentality, the first mentioned and the second mentioned conductors constituting parts of said protective circuit when it is in normal or merely supervising condition, and said circuit-breaker also having associated therewith a plurality of three separable contacts, two of said contacts being normally maintained in contact with each other and isolated from the remaining contact when the said circuit-breaker is ineffective, thereby to maintain closed the one of the said three conductors wherein is interposed said instrumentality and a different two of said three contacts becoming abnormally contacted with each other to isolate therefrom the remaining contact when said circuit-breaker is effective thereby to maintain open the one of said three conductors wherein is interposed said in strumentality and to maintain closed the one of said three conductors which is shunted around said instrumentality.

5. In a system of the class described, in combination, a protective circuit, a source of supply adapted to feed current thereto; a resistance interposed in said circuit adapted to cut down the current normally flowing through said circuit to a predetermined low a circuit-breaker, as a code-message signaling station, interposed in said circuit, and adapted when inactive to maintain said circuit closed but adapted when operated to open and close alternately said circuit; a signal receiving device, as an electro-mechanical gong, interposed in said cireuit and adapted to render perceptible a signal as a result of the creation within said circuit of a momentary surge of current of an amperage higher than the amperage first mentioned provided said surge is followed by a return of said current to said first mentioned amperage; said protective circuit having associated therewith a normally open by-path conductor adapted when closed to cut out said resistance to permit said surge; and electromagnetic means, including an electro-magnetic instrumentality and a normally ineffective circuit closer for said by path adapted to be controlled to close said by-path when said circuit-breaker is operated to open said circuit as aforesaid, said electro-magnetic instrumentality being interposed in said circuit and being normally energized; said system also including a second normally open by-path conductor adapted when closed to out out said instrumentality, and said circuit-breaker having means associated therewith adapted to close said second by-path when said circuit is opened as aforesaid; said protective circuit having interposed therein a second resistance located between the point whereat the return end of said second by-path conductor joins said protective circuit and the source first mentioned.

6. In a system of the class described, in combination, a protective circuit, a signaling station interposed therein, a source of current supply for said circuit, a relay responsive to current interruptions in said circuit, a local alarm circuit, said relay having amperage associated therewith a movable armature which when attracted by said relay maintains open said local circuit, said armature being so attracted when said signaling sta' tion is inactive but said relay being adapted to cease attracting said armature whereby the same may alternately predeterminately open and close said local circuit when said signaling station is transmitting a signal, said protective circuit having interposed therein a predetermined resistance located between said relay and said source, and said protective circuit having a normally open by-path conductor adapted when closed to cut out said resistance, and means operated by said relay adapted when said signaling station is transmitting a signal as aforesaid to alternately close and open said by-path conductor, and a signal receiving station, said station including a gong-hammer and an electro-magnetic instrumentality for controlling actuation of the gong-hammer, as-

sociated with said circuit due to the interposition therein of said instrumentality, said instrumentality being adapted to make ready for actuation said gong-hammer when said by-path conductor is closed and consequently when a greater than normal amount of current flows through said protective circuit and being adapted to actuate the same when said by-path conductor again be comes open and consequently when a normal relatively small amount of current is flowing through said by-path conductor.

7. In a system of the class described, in combination, a protective circuit, an alarmgiving device associated therewith, and means associated with said circuit including a relay responsive to current interruptions, whereby normally when said relay is energized, a low current flow is in said circuit thereby to maintain said device inactive and whereby abnormally, when said circuit is opened and said relay is not energized, a high current flow is produced in said circuit when said circuit is again closed thereby to condition said alarm-giving device for actuation, upon the energization of said relay by said closure, and the consequent return of the current flow in said circuit to normal.

8. In a system of theclass described, in combination, a protective circuit, an alarmgiving device associated therewith, said alarm-giving device including an electromagnet, means associated with said circuit whereby normally a low current flow is in said circuit thereby to permit said device to remain inoperative and whereby abnormally a high current flow is in said circuit thereby to cause an actuation of said alarmgiving device, and a signaling station asso ciated with said circuit, said station including a plurality of normally closed brushes adapted predeterminedly to become separated to momentarily break the protective circuit and thereupon again to touch each other again to close said circuit, said means including a relay in the protective circuit, a normally open by-path conductor in said circuit, an armature normally attracted by said relay and thereby normally maintaining open said conductor, and a relay interposed in said conductor and adapted to attract said armature to it to continue to hold closed said conductor when said conductor is closed by the retraction of said armature from the relay first-mentioned, the second mentioned relay having a characteristic predetermined lag and the conducting portion of said circuit which is in parallel with said by-path conductor when the latter is closed having interposed therein a predetermined resistance, so that upon a separating and subsequent touching together as aforesaid of said brushes the surge of current which on sues, due to the short circuiting of said resistance, will momentarily flow through both lie messes said relays and consequently through said electromagnct in said alarm-giving device.

9. A signaling system comprising a metallic circuit having in series therein, a source of current, signal receiving devices, signal. transmitting devices adapted when inactive to maintain said circuit closed, but adapted when operated to open and close alternately said circuit, an electro-magnet adapted to respond to the opening and closing ot said circuit, a resistance in said circuit adapted to cut down the current flow therein to a predeteri'nined low amount, and means controlled by said electro-magnet to short circuit said resistance upon the opening of the circuit thus to condition said circuit to permit a momentary surge of current upon the reclosing of the circuit, of an amount greater than that first mentioned, and whereby upon the closure of said circuit said resistance will be again shunted into said circuit and said signal receiving devices rendered audible.

10. A signaling system comprising a circuit having in series therein a source of current, a plurality of transmitting devices, each adapted to interrupt the current flow therethrough, a magnet responsive to such interruptions of said current flow, and a plurality of receiving devices, in combination with means controlled by said magnet for causin an operati vely abnormal current flow through said receiving devices upon the closure of the circuit following each of said interruptions in the current flow through said transmitting devices, thus to condition said receiving devices to render audible a signal, as a result of the energization of said magnet by said closure, and the consequent return to normal of the current flow in said transmitting devices.

11. In an electric signalingsystem: a circuit including therein an. electro-magnet having an armature, andv a resistance; a normally open by-path around said resistance; the armature of said electro-magnet being adapted to close said by-path when said magnet is de'energized, and a second electro-magnet in said by-path tending when energized to move said armature away from said first mentioned electro-magnet.

'12. In an electric signaling system: a circuit including in series therein an electromagnet having an armature, and also including a resistance; a by-path around said resistance; the armature of said electro-magnot being adapted to close said by-path when said magnet is deenergized by the opening of said circuit; and a second electro-magnet in said by-path tending when energized to resist movement of said armature toward said first mentioned electromagnet When said first mentioned electro-magnet is energized by the closing of said circuit.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York.

SIMON B. HESS. lVitnesses Jnssii J. HOFFMAN, EDMUND STEINER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

